Jay Lee, the mayor of Virgin, a town just north of
the Arizona border, told KSL-TV that most of the 350
residents already own firearms so there’s lots of support for the
initiative.

The town council passed the ordinance after residents expressed
fear that their Second Amendment right to bear arms was under fire.

The move has some Utah residents perplexed.

“The state legislature hasn’t addressed guns on any basis,”
said Kim DeMille, of Utah’s Safe to Learn, Safe to Worship
Coalition, which is fighting to keep guns out of schools and
churches. “I don’t know why they would think their Second
Amendment rights are being taken away.”

Virgin residents who don’t comply will not be punished, the
mayor said. Also, exceptions will be made for the mentally ill,
convicted felons, conscientious objectors and people who cannot
afford to own a gun.

Town leaders say they got the idea from a city in Georgia that
passed a similar law about 12 years ago.